Thirty weeks of Geek Squeaks’ and going strong. I encourage the readers of this blog to visit each of the sites (blogs) that are listed below to learn more about information technology and computers. I am quite sure you will find something that will grab your attention. Geek Squeaks’ is a weekly listing of random articles that have been posted (within the past 7 days) by the blogs that are on the What’s On My PC… blogroll (located on the right side of the blog).

Stickies (v6.7) is a FREE electronic version of “sticky notes” that you often see posted on people’s desk, computer monitors, refrigerators, etc… I have been using Stickies on my PC (and thumb drive) to replace the accumulated paper mess that “sticky notes can lead to. Stickies is one of those programs that I personally cannot live without. It is FREE; It is GOOD; and It is PORTABLE.

Backing up your data to the cloud… What are your options? Is it costly? Is it hard to do? Should I do it?

If you have a desire to get answers to these questions, I encourage you to visit Scoroncocolo to learn more about FREE On-Line Backup Strategies AND how you can take advantage of them. The article is very well written for us everyday folks to understand. Be sure to check out the nice listing of online storage services that offer “FREE” storage space.

Cloud Computing is a buzz phrase we hear a lot these days. All Cloud Computing means is using your Web browser instead of your hard drive to run applications to do the work you do everyday. It won’t be long until this is the norm rather than the exception.

One thing you might want to keep in mind about using cloud storage providers is that they could go belly-up at any time. You may recall that this happened to AOL-owned Xdrive in or around August 0f 2008. With this in mind, you may not want to consider using backing-up in the cloud as your only method of securing your data.

Once you have music, pictures and documents stored on Google Docs, SkyDrive, ADrive, Box.net or Amazon, you can download and install Gladinet Cloud Desktop to keep track of everything. Gladinet Cloud Desktop allows you to access files stored in the cloud as if they were in a local folder.

Converber is one of those utilities that you should have on your computer (or flash drive) for those instances where you have to make unit conversions. Converber is a very powerful and feature enriched program that outshines the competition (see comparisons). Instantly get conversion results from one unit of measure to another unit of measure.

Converber is a unit converter. It is a powerful software utility that will help make easy conversions between 1324 various units of measure in 38 categories. Converber converts everything from length and force to flow and temperature.

Windows4All is a Microsoft Silverlight (web) based online virtual operating system that emulates the feel and appearance of Windows Vista. No installation or account sign-up is required; and applications can be launched right away by simply going to Windows4all.com . If the application does not load, then you do not have Microsoft Silverlight installed.

Hardware – Performance doesn’t depend much on the speed of your computer.

Entertainment – Being online, windows4all.com offers more opportunities for communicating and entertainment.

Cost – It is free.

Windows4All is currently in the early stage of development; however, the current stage of development will give you an idea what a familiar online operating system (Vista) looks like inside your web browser.

Recently Windows4All was updated to include a Virtual PC application. It is now possible to run other webOS like G.ho.st, Startforce, Cloudo, and Lucid-Desktop inside windows4all.com.

I have always had an attraction for menu launchers and can’t wait to try a new one out. A new one to me, called MouseExtender, is very unique in that the menu (which you customize and create) is launched via your middle mouse button. When you click on the middle mouse button, your menu will appear wherever the mouse pointer is located. How convenient is that?

It appears that MouseExtender is in the early development stages; however, do not let that distract you from trying or using it. This puppy is attractive in appearance, has Windows 7 effects AND has Windows Shutdown, Restart and Control Panel buttons already configured. Adding a File, Folder, or Program is as easy as right clicking on the menu panel and making a selection.

I plan to monitor this app very closely. I would love to see the developer further engineer MouseExtender to include menu categories, web links, and the ability to move the icons around on the menu panel. Otherwise, very impressive and unique program launcher.

Analyzing and determining what files and/or folders are consuming hard drive space; and how much space is left at any given time is a difficult task for the everyday computer user. Learning such things as kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, petabytes is beyond the comprehensive level of many; HOWEVER, this is the naming convention that Windows uses to to determine file sizes, folder sizes; AND the space remaining and/or consumed on a drive.

This will not make any sense to many, but here is a sample of the units of measure used by Windows:

This is where Xinorbis can help… Xinorbis is capable of giving you a quick “visual” graphical analysis of how the space on your computer is being used and distributed. I have also found it is a good learning tool to help make sense out of the naming conventions (e.g. kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, etc…) due to “percentages” being assigned as well (which we can relate to). Another factor with Xinorbis, that sets well with me, is that there is a portable version available that you can carry on your flash drive.

It makes it easy to see the contents, structure and file distribution and file composition of a whole hard disk, directory, or mapped network drive. Includes full report creation.

Xinorbis can create the following reports;

HTML (with or without graphs), scan/category data

XML, scan/category data and full file listing

CSV, scan/category data and full file listing

Text, scan/category data

It’s also possible to copy the data directory from Xinorbis’ charts and tables, just press the right mouse button over a chart, table or tree view to see a list of export options.

Features:

analyze a single drive, folder or merge several together in one report

You are currently browsing the What's On My PC blog archives for September, 2009.

Search

Visitors to What's On My PC

2,366,815

WELCOME

What's
On My PC

The
intent of this blog is to share my knowledge base of computers,
software, gadgets and information technology in terms that is
presentable and understandable to ALL; and at the same time feed my
obsession for information technology by learning from others.

I
encourage you to visit frequently and communicate via the
comments section at the bottom of any of the articles.

All
blog posts (articles) are the original works of the author of
"What's On My PC..." (unless otherwise indicated)